Electrically operated indexing and presetting means for a clock or like mechanism



Feb. 26, 1963 N. J. HICKLY v 3,078,655

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED INDEXING AND PRESETTING MEANS FOR A CLOCK OR LIKE MECHANISM Filed Feb. 29, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.2.

INVENTOR. Nicholas J. Hlckly his ATTORNEYS Feb. 26, 1963 N. J. HICKLY 3,078,655

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED INDEXING AND PRESETTING MEANS FOR A CLOCK OR LIKE MECHANISM Filed Feb. 29, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Nicholas J.'HickIy his ATTQENEYS Patented Feb. 26, 1953 3,078,655 ELECTRECALLY (PPERATED ENDEXHNG ANB PRE- dldT'ilil iG MEANS Eli A CLOCK QR LEKE MECHANEM Nicholas J. Hicldy, Whitehall, Pa, assignor to Pennwood Numec'nron (Iempany, Fittshurgh, Pa., in corporation of Peunsyivauia Filed Feb. 29, 196i), Ser. No. 11,631 2 lllaims. (Cl. 58-26) This invention is for a clock or similar mechanism, and is for a multiple dial directreading clock or like mechanism in which the numerals indicating increments of time or motion are read directly from left to right on the peripheries of a series of dials.

in Greenawalt Patent No. 1,990,645 dated February 12, 1935, there is disclosed a direct-reading ciock having a succession of dials with numerals on the periphery, and each revolution of a dial at the right-hand side of the series moves the next dial to the left one increment, and when that dial in turn rotates one revolution, the next dial is moved one increment. In this mechanism the right-hand dial has ten faces with each face bearing a numeral, the numerals reading from O to 9. The next dial has six faces with numerals reading from to 5. The last dial to the left has twelve faces reading from 1 to 12. The transmission of motion from one dial to another is dependent, among other things, on the fact that the dials are of different diameters so that a motiontransmitting projection on one dial moves in an are that is not concentric with the element of the adjacent dial to which it transmits movement.

This mechanism is entirely satisfactory for a simple twelve-hour clock. However, it is unsatisfactory for a twenty-four hour clock, for example, since the hour dial cannot well be much larger in diameter than the corresponding dial of a twelve-hour clock. Therefore, to provide numbers reading from 1 to 24, the numerals are crowded and small as compared to the numerals on the minute dials. Again, in some industrial applications, a continuous record running into hundreds of hours may be desirable, and a mechanism like that shown in the Greenawalt patent is unsuited for such purpose. Also, for purposes where counting is to be done in intervalssay for example ten or fifteen-second intervals-a mechanism as shown in the Greenawalt patent is unsuitable. There are, of course, clock-type mechanisms, like odometers, where the dials are connected through gearing, and each dial to the left moves one-tenth of a rotation with each full revolution of the next dial to the right. Such positively-geared devices lack flexibility for many operations or locations.

With a gear train type of movement, resetting generally requires some operation of turning the dials ahead until they all read zero. This is often a relatively slow procedure, or it may not always be desirable. For example, in traveling west, one may want to change to an earlier time zone, say from 3:45 to 2:45. It is awkward to turn all of the dials ahead to zero and then advance them to 2:45. Various other situations arise where independent movements of the dials may be desirable.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide a clock or similar mechanism having multiple dials, in which each dial has its own electromagnetic means for rotating it.

A further object of my invention is to provide a multiple dial clock or counter in which a predetermined travel of one dial sends an electric impulse toenergize the electromagnetic means for rotating a succeeding dial.

A further object of my invention is to provide a multiple dial clock with an electromagnetic means for rotating some of the dials, and wherein there are selectively operable means for independently setting each dial.

A further object or" my invention is to provide a simple and unique clock or counting mechanism.

These and other objects and advantages are secured by my invention which may be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FEG. 1 is a top plan view of a mechanism embodying my invention, the usual housing or casing being omitted;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical section in the plane of line Ill-41E of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic wiring diagram showing one wiring circuit for the apparatus.

In the drawings, 2 designates a base having an upright support 3 secured thereto near one end thereof. Carried on one face of this support is a synchronous motor of the type commonly used in electric clocks, and which, together with a reducing gear, is encased in a housing. The motor and gear assembly is designated 4. There is a shaft 5 driven by the motor which passes through the upright 3, and it has an eccentric cam 6 on its outer end.

There is a second upright support 7 on the base near the other end. There is a fixed shaft 8 mounted in the supports 3 and '7. Loose on the shaft 8 for independent rotation is a series of similar dials or drums 9, 9a and 9b. Each drum has a central hub portion 10 through which the shaft 8 is passed, a web portion 11 and a rim 12 which is wider than the web. The rim 12 is preferably of polygonal contour with a number of equal flat faces on which numbers are printed. The dials or drums are desirably molded of plastic, and while they are shown as being polygonal, they might just as well be cylindrical.

Projecting from one edge of each dial is a series of equally-spaced pins 13 that may be of metal molded into the plastic, and one pin is located at each corner of the polygon. A spring 14 is shown around the shaft 8 between the upright 7 and the hub of the dial 9b for yieldably urging this dial toward the right, and since the hub of one dial contacts that of an adjacent dial, this pressure is transmitted to all of the dials.

There is a bracket 15 secured to the base back of the dials. It has a foot portion 15a secured to the base, a vertical web 15]), and a rearwardly-projecting top flange 15c. Mounted on the top of flange is a series of forwardly-projecting arms 16. Each arm 16 supports a micro-switch of similar construction, the number of microswitches being equal to the number of dials, and they are designated 17, 17a and 17b.

Micro-switch 17 is located in a position to be operated by the rotation of earn 6. Dial 9 has a pin 13 projecting from its periphery, so that once each revolution it engages micro-switch 17a. Dial 9a has a similar pin 18a on its periphery to engage and trip micro-switch 17b. While I have shown three dials and three micro-switches, there may be many more, the number of switches corresponding to the number of dials, and each dial would have a switch-tripping element or pin or cam similar to 18, except the last dial to the left, where it is not needed.

Secured to the under side of the bracket flange 150 are several solenoids corresponding in number to the number of dials or drums, there being one solenoid to the rear of each drum. These are designated 19, 19a and 1%, corresponding to drums 9, "9a and 912 respectively.

Each solenoid has an armature 20 to which is attached a horizontal bar 21, preferably of aluminum or plastic, to reduce weight. One bar extends forwardly from each solenoid armature along the edge of one of the drums, the bar being of a width to have a working clearance between two pins 13 on the edge of the dial which it operaozaeaa ates, and in its normal extended position this engagement of two pins of each dial with the upp'en'and'lower edges ing portion 23 at its outer end with a horizontal extension 2 4 forming its outermost portion. Each portion 24 has one end ofa tension'spr'ing 25 attached thereto, the other end of each spring being anchored to a fixed post 26 secured to the base, there being one anchor'post 26 for each bar 21. The springs serve to yieldably resist move mentgofthe armatures on which they are carried to their retracted positions, and to return the bars 22 to their normal extended position.

The'downwardly and forwardly-sloping edge of the bar is cut awayto provide a camming surface 2311 so p'osition'ed that as the bar 21moves to the right as viewed in FIG. 3 under the influence of the solenoid, such surface stfikes'that pin '13 which is immediately under the bar, tending to rotate the drum in a clockwise direction. 'The bar Zlhas a groove 22a transver'sely acrossthat face of the bar whichconfronts the pin-carryingedge of thedrum. The groove 22a is'generally of chevron-like shape, with reversely-sloping edges 22b and 220 at the forward edge of the groove. Before the bar moves to the right sufiiciently for the edge 23a to start moving the under pin down, the bar'will have moved to a point where the pinat:

the'top edge of the bar is over the slot, so thatthe disk may rotate in a clockwise direction as camrning surface 230, moving to the right, exertsdownward pressure onthe lower of'the two pins in question; When the solenoid armature has completed its stroke to the right, the upper,

pin'will have moved in an arc to the point marked 22' in the groove. Then, as the bar 21 moves to the left under the action of the spring 25,'inclined camming surface 22b will engage this upper pin, now moved halfway down the slot, completing one full increment of movement of the dia1,"'and the parts will again be in the position shown in FIG. 3. 'Thus the first half'of an increment of rotation is effected by the retracting'movement of the bar 22, and the s'econdhalf by the return movement, and each drum' is positively' locked against free rotation or'overtravel.

In FIG. 4 I have shown a Wiring diagram for the apparatus in whichjlines 30 and 31 arecurrent' supply lines The'motor is designated 4, and is connectedacross these lines. A branch line 32 from line' 30 isconnected to one side of each solenoid, whichare herealso designated 19, 19a and 19b. From each solenoid there is a wire 33 leadingto the respective micro-switches 17, 17a and 17b; Wire 34'leads from switch 17 'to wire 35 to one contact 36 of atwo-contact push-button switch 37. The switch 37 isbiased to normally close a circuit with contact 36. The switch 37 may be pushed down to engage contact 38 and open the circuit to contact 36. Switch 37 is connected through wire 39 to the other line wire 31. Contact 38 is connected to wire'39that shunts around the micro-switch 17 towire 33.

' Wire 35 also connects to a similar push-button switch 40 having two contacts 41 and 42. The switch is biased to normally close a circuit to contact 41, and this contact is connected to a wire 43; Wire 44 connects the microswitch 17a to wire 43, and there is a shunt circuit around the micro-switch provided from contact 42 to wire 33. Wire 43 is connected to a third double contact push button switch 45 having contacts 46 and 47, and the switch is biased to normally close a circuit through contact 46 with wire 48. Branch wire 49 connects 48 with microswitch 17b. A shunt circuit 50 is provided around microswitch 17b from contact 47. to wire 33 for the thirdjsolenoid. This arrangement may be repeated for as many dials, as may be used, andis not restricted to the three which are shown.

Inoperation, rotation, of thereccentric cam 6 momentarily closes micro-switch 17, closinga circuit through the micro switch and the normally closed push-button switch 37 through the solenoid 19 to the current supply lines 30 and 31. Therefore each revolution of cam 6 'rotates'drum 9 through one increment. When pin 18 on this dial moves past micro-switch 17a, an impulse is sent through solenoid 19a to rotate dial 9a one increment. Likewise, when pin 1811 on dial 9a moves past micro-switch 17b, an impulse is sent through solenoid 19b to rotatedial 9b through one increment.

Three push-buttons 37a, 40a and 45a are shown in the base in FIG. 1 for separately operating the switches 37, 40 and 45. By pushing down on any button an impulse may be sent through the selected'switch through the shunt circuit to a selected solenoid to rotate a selected drum, but since the normally closed contacts of the several switches are in series, the circuit, to the left of the push-button so operated is opened, so that the movement of one dial then is ineffective to'move any other dial. Thus the position or setting of'ea'ch dial may be'effected without changing any other dial. By pushing the selected button a number of times in succession, a selected dial may be rotatedthrough a corresponding number of increments.

' There is provided therefore a multiple dial clock, or counting mechanism in which each dial is independently moved by anelectric impulse generated by the motion of a preceding dial, with no gearing between dials, and the ratio of movement of one dial to another may be varied by changing the number of pins 18 on any one dial. For

example, if on dial, 9 there were two pins lslocated apart, dial 941 could rotate two increments for each rotationof dial 9, insteadof only one. If a clock is to measure fifteen-second intervals instead of sixty-second intervals, it can readily be made to count such intervals. Also, in-' sizes, as in the-aforesaid Greenawalt patent, for example. By having push-button switches with normally closed con-" tacts in series and the normally open contact shunted around the micro-switch for the drum which it governs,

any dial may be selectively moved or set without affecting any other dial.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention, it should be understood that.

this is by way of illustration and that various changes and modifications may be made in the construction of the apparatus within the contemplation of my invention.

I claim:

1 A clock mechanism comprising a series of dials mounted for independent rotation in side-by-side relation, a series of electromagnets corresponding in number to the number of dials with one magnet for serving each dial, the magnets being supported alongside the dials, each magnet having an armature movable back and forth with relation to the dial which it serves, the armature being moved in one direction by the magnet and having a spring for moving it in the opposite direction, cooperating means on each armatureand the dial which it serves for moving said dial through a predetermined arc with each cycle of movement of the armature and restraining it against movement greater than said predetermined arc and independently of the actuation of said armature, means for intermittently energizing the electromagnet at one end of the series to effect a cycle of movement of the armature thereof, said dial and each succeeding one in the series except the one at the opposite end of the series having'a switch-operating element thereon, a switch for each succeeding electromag'nct after the first positioned to be engaged by the switch operating means of the preceding dial during a selected cycle of movement of said preceding dial, a circuit for each switch and the electromagnet which itoperates whereby each rotation of the first dial mo- Inentarily closes the switch and circuit for the electromagnet for the next dial to move its armature through a full cycle and each dial in turn similarly energizes the electromagnet for the next-succeeding dial, each circuit including a push button switch for selectively rotating each dial manually while de-energizing the circuits for any succeeding electromagnet in the order of their operational sequence in the series.

2. A clock mechanism of the class described comprising a dial, means for rotatably supporting the dial, the dial having a rim with a series of equally-spaced pins extending therefrom in a direction parallel with the axis of rotation of the dial, an electromagnet adjacent the dial, an armature for the electromagnet reciprocated in one direction by energizing the magnet, a spring for etfecting return movement of the armature when the electromagnet is deenergized, an operating member connected to the armature and extending radially between two pins on said periphery of the dial and of a width to normally restrain the dial from rotation, said operating member having a rectangular bar the width of which is such as to have a working fit between two pins and which has a substantially V-shaped transverse groove in the face thereof that confronts the dial and a downwardly-extending inclined cam surface thereon positioned radially of the dial inward of the groove, whereby the movement of said operating member by the electromagnet first brings that pin at the upper edge of said member over the groove to thereby permit the pin to enter the V-shaped groove, after which the inclined cam surface engages the pin below said member to push it down and thereby effect the first part of the full predetermined increment of movement of the dial and a wall of the V-shaped groove exerts a further camnting action on the upper pin when the operating member is pulled back by the spring to advance said upper pin to the point previously occupied by the lower pin and a succeeding pin on said dial is then in the original position of the first-mentioned upper pin.

15 References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 700,454 Thrasher May 20, 1902 800,286 Flint Sept. 26, 1905 20 2,072,457 Larrabee Mar. 2, 1937 2,527,661 Stack Get. 31, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 194,431 Great Britain Mar. 15, 1923 

1. A CLOCK MECHANISM COMPRISING A SERIES OF DIALS MOUNTED FOR INDEPENDENT ROTATION IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION, A SERIES OF ELECTROMAGNETS CORRESPONDING IN NUMBER TO THE NUMBER OF DIALS WITH ONE MAGNET FOR SERVING EACH DIAL, THE MAGNETS BEING SUPPORTED ALONGSIDE THE DIALS, EACH MAGNET HAVING AN ARMATURE MOVABLE BACK AND FORTH WITH RELATION TO THE DIAL WHICH IT SERVES, THE ARMATURE BEING MOVED IN ONE DIRECTION BY THE MAGNET AND HAVING A SPRING FOR MOVING IT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, COOPERATING MEANS ON EACH ARMATURE AND THE DIAL WHICH IT SERVES FOR MOVING SAID DIAL THROUGH A PREDETERMINED ARC WITH EACH CYCLE OF MOVEMENT OF THE ARMATURE AND RESTRAINING IT AGAINST MOVEMENT GREATER THAN SAID PREDETERMINED ARC AND INDEPENDENTLY OF THE ACTUATION OF SAID ARMATURE, MEANS FOR INTERMITTENTLY ENERGIZING THE ELECTROMAGNET AT ONE END OF THE SERIES TO EFFECT A CYCLE OF MOVEMENT OF THE ARMATURE THEREOF, SAID DIAL AND EACH SUCCEEDING ON IN THE SERIES EXCEPT THE ONE OF THE OPPOSITE END OF THE SERIES HAVING A SWITCH-OPERATING ELEMENT THEREON, A SWITCH FOR EACH SUCCEEDING ELECTROMAGNET AFTER THE FIRST POSITIONED TO BE ENGAGED BY THE SWITCH OPERATING MEANS OF THE PREECEDING DIAL DURING A SELECTED CYCLE OF MOVEMENT OF SAID PRECEDING DIAL, A CIRCUIT FOR EACH SWITCH AND THE ELECTROMAGNET WHICH IT OPERATES WHEREBY EACH ROTATION OF THE FIRST DIAL MOMENTARIALY CLOSES THE SWITCH AND CIRCUIT FOR THE ELECTROMAGNET FOR THE NEXT DIAL TO MOVE ITS ARMATURE THROUGH A FULL CYCLE AND EACH DIAL IN TURN SIMILARLY ENERGIZES THE ELECTROMAGNET FOR THE NEXT-SUCCEEDING DIAL, EACH CIRCUIT INCLUDING A PUSH BUTTON SWITCH FOR SELECTIVELY ROTATING EACH DIAL MANUALLY WHILE DE-ENERGIZING THE CIRCUITS FOR ANY SUCCEEDING ELECTROMAGNET IN THE ORDER OF THEIR OPERATIONAL SEQUENCE IN THE SERIES. 